Demountable archery bow

ABSTRACT

An archery bow wherein the limbs are detachable from the handle; the handle having a recess extending endwise to receive the end of the limb and to rigidify the bow when flexed for stringing the bow and when the bow is drawn and released for casting an arrow; the limbs and handle having a spring-pressed insert and socketlatching device retaining the limbs to the handle when the limbs are relaxed.

United States Patent 3,326,200 6/1967 Grable 124/24 3,406,675 10/ 1 968Fredrickson i 124/24 2,001,470 5/1935 Nyvall 124/24 2,457,793 12/1948Bear 124/23 3,415,240 12/1968 Bear.... 124/23 3,502,063 3/1970 Bear....124/23 3,505,985 4/1970 Helton. 124/24 3,527,196 9/1970 Karbo 124/24Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. ApleyAttorneys-Williamson, Palmatier & Bains, George F.

Williamson, H. Dale Palmatier and Herman H. Bains ABSTRACT: An archerybow wherein the limbs are detachable from the handle; the handle havinga recess extending endwise to receive the end of the limb and torigidify the bow when flexed for stringing the bow and when the bow isdrawn and released for casting an arrow; the limbs and handle having aspring-pressed insert and socket-latching device retaining the limbs tothe handle when the limbs are relaxed.

1 DEMOUNTABEE ARCHERY BOW BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Demountablearchery bows in the past have had complicated latching arrangementswhich have been cumbersome and have had various protuberances andmechanical devices which made such release devices quite undesirable forreasons of difficult operation and because such mechanisms would getcaught on branches and leaves when hunting and would also be damaged andrendered inoperative. The present invention provides for the simple andefficient demounting of the limbs of a bow from the handle by providinga simple socket into which the end of the limb is extended and alatching device comprising a socket on the limb and an insert orprojection on the handle which restrains the limb against endwiseretraction from the handle. A leaf spring urges the insert and sockettogether under normal circumstances, but the limb can be tilted againstthe spring for ready and easy removal from the handle. When the bow isstrung up for shooting and when the bow is subsequently drawn forcasting an arrow, the limb and handle are secured very tightly togetherwithout regard to the latching mechanism so that the limbs areessentially rigid with the handle and the demountable aspect of the bowhas no undesirable shooting features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail elevation view with portions of the rigidbracket broken away for clarity of detail.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 3-3 inFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One form of the invention is shownin the drawings and is described herein.

The demountable archery bow is indicated in general by numeral and has ahandle 11 and limbs 12, both of which are demountable from the handle11. The coupling construction 13 at the joint between each of the limbs12 and the handle are identical for each of the limbs and only one ofthese will be described.

In FIG. 1, the bow is illustrated in strung condition so that an arrowmay be applied to the string 14 and laid on the arrow rest of the handleso that the bow may be drawn and then released to cast the arrow towardthe target. It will be recognized that the front sides 12a of the limbs12 and the front side 11a of the handle face the target; andthe string14 lies against or confronts the rear sides 12b of the limbs 12 andconfronts the rear side 11b of the handle.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the end of the handle 11 has an elongaterecess 15 extending endwise or longitudinally and also opening forwardlyfor receiving the inner end 16 of the limb 12. A rigid steel bracket 17is affixed as by screws 17a to the wood base 11.1 of the handle, and thebracket 17 has opposite side panels 17.1 and 17.2 which define theopposite sides of the recess 15. The bracket 17 has a front strapportion 17.3 which extends across the front of the wood base 11.1 of thehandle and defines the front side of the recess 15, extending a shortdistance upwardly from the bottom of the recess 15. The strap 17.3 whichdefines the front wall of the recess retains the front side of the lowerend 16 of the limb 12 while the rear side of the limb bears against therear abutment surface 11.2 which defines the rear side of the recess 15.

Above the strap 17.3, the front side of recess 15 is substantially opento permit the limb 12 to tip forwaRdly in the direction of arrow A whenthe limb is relaxed and the bow is unstrung or let down. However,forward tipping of the limb 12 in the direction of arrow A is restrainedby an elongate leaf spring 18 which is affixed as by welding or brazingat its lower end to the rigid cross strap 17.3.

The handle 11 is provided with a rigid cross pin 19 which is affixed asby welding to the opposite sideplates 17.1 and 17.2 of the bracket 17 ata position opposite the upper end of the leaf spring 18. At this samelocation, the limb 12 is shaped to define a pin-receiving socket 20 soas to prevent the limb 12 from separating endwise from the handle 11.

The pin or insert 19 is normally retained in the socket 20 by the leafspring 18, which restrains forward tipping of the limb 12 with respectto the handle.

The tapered shape of the lower end 16 of the limb prevents any bindingof the limb in the recess 15 when the limb is tipped forwardly forremoval from the handle.

In the nonnal operation of the bow, the spring 18 maintains the pin orinsert 19 and socket 20 in coupled relationship so as to prevent anyaccidental or undesired separation of the limb 12 from the handle 11while the limb is in relaxed condition.

When the bow is strung so as to adjust the string 14 in a position tofacilitate shooting, the limbs 12 are both flexed in the direction ofarrow F in FIG. 2, and are retained in this state of flection until thebow is again let down. While the bow is strung as illustrated in FIG. 1,the lower end 16 of the limb bears forwardly against the strap 17 andrearwardly against the rear side of the recess, particularly adjacentthe upper portion of the recess 15 so as to establish a very rigidrelationship between the limbs and the handle.

When an arrow is applied to the string and laid across the arrow rest onthe handle, the bow may be drawn so as to additionally flex the limbs 12in the direction of arrow F, and this flexing has no undesirable effectat all on the joint between the limbs and the handle. The pressureapplied against the strap 17.3 and against the rear side 11.2 of therecess, is somewhat increased and the rigidity between the limbs and thehandle is therefore increased. As the string and arrow are released soas to cast the arrow forwardly, the limbs 12 return to the positionillustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the lower end 16 of the limb continues toapply substantial pressure against the rear side 11.2 of the recess andagainst the strap 17.3 defining the front side of the recess 15. It canbe said that this bow operates like a conventional bow and has noadverse effect upon the casting of an arrow.

When shooting has been completed, the bow may be let down so that thetension on the string 14 is relieved and the limbs 12 return to relaxedposition. When this condition exists, the limbs may be swung or tiltedforwardly in the direction of arrow A so as to tip the lower end 16 ofthe limb against the spring 18 and separate the socket 20 from theinsert or pin 19. After this tipping occurs, the limb 12 may bewithdrawn endwise from the socket 115, and the bow may thereby be takendown for storage within a small space.

When the bow is to be again prepared for shooting, the inner end 16 ofthe limb may merely be inserted into the space between the pin 19 andthe spring 18 and then inserted downwardly into the recess 15 until thesocket 20 seats against the pin 19 under influence of the spring 18. Thebow may be strung up to the position of FIG. 1, whereupon the bow isready for shooting.

It will be seen that I have provided a new and improved demountable bowwherein the limbs are demountable from the handle by means of aconnection involving a recess in the handle into which the inner end ofthe limb is extended. The limb is removed by simply tilting it forwardlyso as to uncouple the pin and socket which normally restrains the limbfrom endwise separation from the handle. Normally, while the bow isunstrung and in relaxed condition, the leaf spring retains the insert orpin and socket in coupled condition. When the bow is strung up and shot,it operates like any other bow.

What is claimed is:

1. A demountable archery bow to be fitted with a bow string,

comprising a handle and limbs having rear sides along which the stringextends and having front sides facing the target, one of the limbs beingseparate from the end of said handle,

said end of the handle having a recess opening forwardly and endwise andremovably receiving the end of the limb therein, the handle having frontand rear abutment surfaces at the front and rear sides of the recessagainst and handle to fully and firmly bear against each other at whichthe front and rear sides of the limb bear, the limb said abutmentsurfaces.

bearing against said abutment surfaces with substantial 2. Thedemountable archery bow according to claim 1 and pressure as the limbsare flexed rearwardly for stringing including a leaf spring on thehandle and lying along the front the bow and as the bow is drawn andreleased for casting 5 side of the limb adjacent the recess, the leafspring having a an arrow {9 i i a i id l i hi between h b free endadjacent the insert and socket and bearing against the dle and limbs,the front abutment surface extending along limb Kit-restrain Said hmbagainst forward tiltingand confronting only the inner end of the recessto permit A demoumable bow to be fitted with a bowsh'hlg, the limb totilt forwardly out of the recess for removal, comprising a handle andlimbs having rear sides along which and 10 the string extends and alsohaving front sides facing the latching means on the limb and handle andincluding a target one (if the limbs being Separate from the handle,

one end of the handle having a rigid bracket affixed thereto, thebracket having sideplates lying flush against the sides of the handleand having a rigid strap extending across the front of the handle, saidsideplates extending beyond the end of the handle and having a rigid pinextending therebetween and spaced rearwardly from the front of thehandle.

cooperating insert and socket spring pressed together transversely ofthe limb and restraining the limb and handle against endwise separation,the insert and socket being separable upon manually tilting the limbforwardly to permit the limb to be withdrawn from the handle, the insertand socket being located beyond the outer end of the abutment surfacesof the handle and being spaced along the limb from the end thereof topermit the limb UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 3,628,519 Dated December 21, 1971 lnventol-(s) Russell N.Hofmeister It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In claim 3, column 4, line 18, after "handle", and before the period,please insert the following:

-a leaf spring affixed to said bracket and extending upwardly along thehandle from said rigid strap to confront said pin in spaced relation,the spring resiliently resisting flexing away from the pin,

said handle having an elongate recess extending downwardly along thefront side of the handle to said strap and to receive the end of thelimb therein, the rigid strap of said bracket forming the front side ofsaid recess and retaining the inner end of the limb in the recess, thespring confronting the open front of the recess, and

the limb having a socket opening rearwardly and r emovably receivingsaid rigid pin therein to be restrained from endwise separation from thehandle, the limb bearing against the leaf spring and being tiltable awayfrom said pin and against said leaf spring for release from saidhandle-- Signed and sealed this 30th day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOITSCI-IALK Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S,GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 O366-38l

1. A demountable archery bow to be fitted with a bow string, comprisinga handle and limbs having rear sides along which the string extends andhaving front sides facing the target, one of the limbs being separatefrom the end of said handle, said end of the handle having a recessopening forwardly and endwise and removably receiving the end of thelimb therein, the handle having front and rear abutment surfaces at thefront and rear sides of the recess against which the front and rearsides of the limb bear, the limb bearing against said abutment surfaceswith substantial pressure as the limbs are flexed rearwardly forstringing the bow and as the bow is drawn and released for casting anarrow to maintain a rigid relationship between the handle and limbs, thefront abutment surface extending along and confronting only the innerend of the recess to permit the limb to tilt forwardly out of the recessfor removal, and latching means on the limb and handle and including acooperating insert and socket spring pressed together transversely ofthe limb and restraining the limb and handle against endwise separation,the insert and socket being separable upon manually tilting the limbforwardly to permit the limb to be withdrawn from the handle, the insertand socket being located beyond the outer end of the abutment surfacesof the handle and being spaced along the limb from the end thereof topermit the limb and handle to fully and firmly bear against each otherat said abutment surfaces.
 2. The demountable archery bow according toclaim 1 and including a leaf spring on the handle and lying along thefront side of the limb adjacent the recess, the leaf spring having afree end adjacent the insert and socket and bearing against the limb torestrain said limb against forward tilting.
 3. A demountable archery bowto be fitted with a bowstring, comprising a handle and limbs having rearsides along which the string extends and also having front sides facingthe target, one of the limbs being separate from the handle, one end ofthe handle having a rigid bracket affixed thereto, the bracket havingsideplates lying flush against the sides of the handle and having arigid strap extending across the front of the handle, said sideplatesextending beyond the end of the handle and having a rigid pin extendingtherebetween and spaced rearwardly from the front of the handle.